Table leg construction



Nov. 16, 1937. B. E. MILLS TABLE LEG CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 9. 1935 Patented Nov. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ii I TABLE LEG CONSTRUCTION Bert E. Mills, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Mills Novelty 00., Chicago, nois 7 Application September 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of leg supports for tables such as pin game tables, and the like, and particularly to improved means for fastening the upper end of the leg to the table frame.

In the construction of rectangular table frames such, for example, as those commonly used in pin game apparatus, the supporting legs or posts are placed'at the four corners of the'table frame. Both the frame and the supporting legs are usually made of wood, thelegs being secured to the table frame byforming notches in the upper ends thereof and bolting such notched portions to the corners of said frame. Much difiiculty has been encountered in securing the legs to the frame in this manner because of the tendency of the legs to split along the notch formed therein to receive the corner of the frame. The object of the present invention is to provide a leg construction in which an auxiliary bearing member is interposed between'a portion of the upper end of the leg and the frame, said member being so shaped that-itwill assume the strain which would ordinarily be applied directly to the table leg, thereby eliminating the tendency of the leg to split when it is bolted to the frame.

Otherobjects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accom- 30' panying drawing wherein I have shown the preferred form in which I have thus far contemplated applying the principles of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a corner portion of a table frame having a supporting leg secured thereto in accordance with my improved construction; and V I Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection through the leg and frame taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

a In the embodiment shown in the drawing the table frame includes a front wall 3, a side wall 4 and a bottom wall 5, these walls beingsuitably joined to form a rigid frame unit. The legfor supporting the corner of the frame formed by walls 3, 4, and 5, is indicated generally by the numeral 6. In the embodiment shown the leg 6 is made of wood and is of rectangular cross section. In accordance with my improved construction, the upper endof the leg 6 is cutto provide I a horizontally disposed shoulder l which, in the embodiment shown, extends approximately to the center line of the post. This shoulder portion 1 serves as a support for the corner of the table,

said corner of the frame, as shown in Fig. 2,'

extending onto the shoulder 1 about two-thirds Ill., a corporation of Illi- 9, 1935, Serial No. 39,744

of the distance to the center line 8 of the post 6. The portion 9 of the post 6 which extends above shoulder l is cut at substantially right angles to the latter, said portion intersectingthe shoulder 7 along the center line 8. A bearing member II, which is preferably made of metal, is adapted to be interposed between the corner of the frame and the vertically cut surface of the post section 9. The side of bearing member H which extends over the post 6 terminates in a flat, vertical face which is adapted, when the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 2, to engage against the vertically cut surface of the'post portion 9. The opposite side of said member I l is cut away along the lines l2 and IE to form a right angled channel which receives the intersecting walls 3 and 4. The lower end of member I l rests on the shoulder l of post 6, and the sides M extend upwardly and join at the top of the post in a curved portion I5. The outer edges of the sides l4 extend slightly beyond the flat vertical wall portion of said member H to provide retaining flanges l 6 which overlap slightly the corner edges of the upwardly extending post sectionv 9.

The bearing member II is secured between the corner of the table frame and the post portion 9 by a bolt ll which passes through said post portion Sand member H, and also through the corner of the table frame. -A fillet 58, formed of wood or other suitable material, is interposed between the head l9 of bolt I l and the inner corner ofthe frame formed by walls 3 and 4. The other end of said bolt I1 is threaded to receive a nut 2| which engages the outer edge of post portion 9. The outer surface of said portion 9, is preferably curved or tapered toward the upper portion of bearing member II to provide a pleasing appearance;

It will be apparent from Fig. 2 that when the parts are clamped into position by bolt "the strain which ordinarily would be placed on the upper end of the post is carried by the bearing member II which is'notched to fit snugly against corner walls 3 and 4. The Wedging strain which in the present forms of construction is applied directly to the notch in the upper end of the post, is thus carried by the member II. This strain is transmitted through member II to the vertically out Wall of the post portion 9, but since such strain is not concentrated at any one point on such surface there is little or no tendency to cause splitting of said portion 9. The weight of the table is borne by the shoulder portion 1, the corner of the table lapping .said shoulder sufliciently to provide a rigid support for the table when the parts are drawn to the clamped position shown in Fig. 2.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in View of the prior art.

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A table leg and attaching means therefor comprising a post having a shoulder formed in the upper end thereof for supporting a cornerof the table, the portion of the post extending above said shoulder being cut to form a substantially fiat surface intersecting said shoulder, a bearing member having a notch formed in one side thereof for receiving the corner of the table, the side opposite said notch terminating in a fiat face for engaging the surface intersecting said shoulder, and means for clamping the upper end of the post to the corner of the table with said member interposed between the corner of the table and the portion of the post extending above said shoulder.

2. A table leg and attaching means therefor comprising a leg member cut to provide a horizontal shoulder upon which a corner of the table may rest and a vertical attaching portion having a bearing surface facing the exterior of the corner of the table, a bearing member interposed between said attaching portion of the leg and the corner of the table and resting upon said shoulder, opposite sides of said member being shaped to conform to the table corner and the bearing surface of said. attaching portion respectively, and means for clamping said bearing member and attaching portion to the corner of the table.

3. In combination with the corner of a table, including two angularly disposed upright side walls and a bottom wall, a leg support therefor comprising a post cut away at its upper end toform a horizontal shoulder and a reduced portion projecting upwardly therefrom externally of said corner, a bearing member interposed between said corner and 'said reduced portion, said member being formed on one side with faces forming a dihedral angle less than 180 bearing against the external faces of the end portions of said walls, and shaped on its other side to fit against the vertical surface formed by the cutting away of the post at its upper end, said shoulder projecting under said bearing member and under said corner and in supporting contact with said corner, and

means clamping said member in embracing engagement with said end portions of the walls,

whereby to brace said walls in their correct a portion of the vertical surface of said reduced portion, said shoulder projecting under said bearing member and under said corner and in supporting contact with said corner, and means clamping said member in embracing engagement with said end portions of the walls, whereby to brace said walls in their correct angular relationship.

5. A leg support for a table or the like, comprising a post formed at its upper end with a horizontal shoulder and a reduced portion projecting thereabove, a bearing member adapted to be interposed between said reduced portion and the corner of a table, said bearing member being formed on one side with faces forming a dihedral angle less than 180 bearing against the external faces of the end portions of said walls, and shaped on its other side to fit against a portion of the vertical surface of said reduced portion, said shoulder being adapted to project under said member and under said corner in supporting engagement with said corner, and means for clamping said member in embracing engagement with said end portions of the walls, whereby to brace said walls in their correct angular relationship.

6. In combination with the corner of a table, including two angularly disposed upright side walls and a bottom wall, a leg support therefor comprising a post formed at its upper end with a horizontal shoulder and a reduced portion projecting upwardly therefrom externally of said corner, a bearing member interposed between said corner and said reduced portion, saidmember being formed on one side with faces forming a dihedral angle less than 180 bearing against the external faces of the end portions of said walls, and shaped on its other side to fit against a portion of the vertical surface of said reduced portion, said shoulder projecting under said bearing member and under said corner and in supporting contactwith said corner, and means com prising a bolt extending through the said corner and said reduced portion, clamping said member in embracing engagement with said end portions of the walls, whereby to brace said walls in their correct angular relationship.

'7. A leg support for a table or the like, comprising a post formed at its upper end with a horizontal shoulder and a reduced portion projecting thereabove, a bearing member adapted to be interposed between said reduced portion and the corner of a table, said bearing member being formed on one-side with faces forming a dihedral angle less than 180 bearing against the external faces of the end portions of said walls, and shaped on its other side to fit against a portion of the vertical surface of said reduced portion, said shoulder adapted to project under said member and under said corner in supporting engagement with said corner, and means for clamping said member in embracing engagement with said end portions of the walls, where-.

by to brace said walls in their correct angular relationship, said means comprising a prismshaped block engageable with the inner faces of said end portions of the walls, and a bolt adapted to extend through said reduced portion, said corner, and said block.

- BERT E. MILLS. 

